A Forgotton Tragedy.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 1457, 17 September 1885, Page 4

A Forgotton Tragedy.

Constance Kent, whose trial . tor ; the Boad murder some twenty years ago cauuerl no little sensation, has just been liberated on a ticket of leave. " Good Conduct" m p-ison is the only reason given for this extraordinary step, which is calculated to inspire all murders who have escaped the gallows with hopes of liberty. It is rather more than twentyfive years ago since the whole country was startled by the atrocity of the Road murder: On the night of June' 29thi 18G0, Francis Kent, a child four years o?d, 'was. taken frdm his bed, savagely killed, and the body thrust into a garden closet; The sister Constance, and the .nurse, Elizabeth Gpugh were, first! suspected ; bub for want of Evidence theyj were soon discharged. Then the tragedy; remained hidden m mystery for 5 long! vearsj when it was suddenly brought into notice again by Constonce Kent's confession m a home at Brighton. This was on April 25th, 1865, and the prisoner's! trial took place at Salisbury on July! 21st .following. Haying -pleaded' Guilty,' she was condemned to death by Mr Jus-i lice Willes, hut a week later the sentence was commuted to penal servitude; for life. Nil v, after a lapse of twenty ; years, Constance Kent becomes a free! woman at the age of 41. As a weekly ' contemporary remarks, such a ease" as this' is not only disgraceful m itself, but it sweeps away the f actitous argument of those who advocate the abolition of capital punishment on the ground that life-long punishment is more terrible than death itself.